15 best Android games of 2019!

Gaming on mobile has been improving at a far greater rate than any technology that came before it. Android games seems to hit new heights every year. With the release of Android Nougat and Vulkan API, it only stands to get better and better over time. It won’t be long before mobile sees some even more impressive titles than we have now! Without further delay, here are the best Android games available right now! Fortnite should probably be on this list. However, many are squeamish about it not being on Google Play. If you want to try it, here is our install guide ^(https://www.appmarsh.com/how-to-install-fortnite-for-android-894001/)!

Looking for more awesome games? Check these out!

^(https://www.appmarsh.com/new-android-games-658872/)

10 best new Android games from December 2018!

^(https://www.appmarsh.com/best-free-android-games-329736/)

15 best free Android games of 2018!

^(http://andauth.co/kMterZ)Crashlands

Price:$4.99

^(http://andauth.co/kMterZ)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Crashland was released in 2018 and it’s still among the best Android games ever made. It features an intergalactic trucker that ends up crash landed on an alien planet. Your job is to find out what’s going on, build yourself a base, collect various items (and craft them), and save the world from a nefarious plot. It has an RPG element for character development, tons of items that you can collect and craft, and an auto-managing inventory.

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^(http://andauth.co/NnRCDH)Evoland 1 and 2

Price:$0.99 (first game) / $7.99 (second game)

^(http://andauth.co/NnRCDH)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Evoland 1 and 2 are two of the most unique Android games. They both use a variety of game mechanics. That includes puzzle, RPG, top-down shooter, classic fighter, trading card, and platformer mechanics. The games pay ode to the proverbial good old days of gaming. Each switch in mechanics also changes the graphics to better suit that part of the game. It’s really a unique experience. Both games also offer hardware controller support, no in-app purchases, no ads, and plenty of story to play through. These are definitely excellent.

MADFINGER Games has a long history of success in mobile gaming. They are also have some of the most successful FPS titles available like the Shadowgun series (including the recently launched Shadowgun Legends), UNKILLED, and the Dead Trigger series. The Shadowgun series are sci-fi shooters with both campaigns and multiplayer modes. UNKILLED and the Dead Trigger games are mission-style zombie shooters with a ton of missions and stuff to do. These are the best examples of a good FPS game on mobile. Modern Combat 5 is still great for multiplayer, but you can’t beat the experience of a MADFINGER title. Their latest title is Shadowgun: Legends.

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^(http://andauth.co/PPReFQ)Minecraft

Price:$6.99 with in-app purchases

^(http://andauth.co/PPReFQ)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Minecraft is a popular game all around the world for people of all ages. For those who have never played, Minecraft puts you in a giant world where you mine stuff, build stuff, beat up bad guys, and do pretty much whatever you want. There is a survival mode where you must mine your own resources and food along with a creative mode that gives you unlimited everything. Frequent updates have added tons of new content and possibilities. The game is pretty much on par with its PC and console counterparts. In fact, you can play on multiplayer servers with people on those platforms. Nifty. There are in-app purchases, but they’re usually just for customization things like skin packs.

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^(http://andauth.co/WJHCBP)Monument Valley 1 and 2

Price:$3.99-$4.99 each / $1.99 for DLC

^(http://andauth.co/WJHCBP)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Monument Valley returns to the list with the release of Monument Valley 2. Both games are still very excellent. In fact, they both have virtually identical game play mechanics and graphics. The player adventures through Escher-style puzzles where levels are movable to complete the path using illusions. The premise is still charming and the Monument Valley franchise continues to stand as a couple of the best mobile games ever. The first one runs for $3.99 with an optional $1.99 in-app purchase for the Forgotten Shores DLC. The second game runs for $4.99 right now.

15 best non-Freemium Android games

15 best free Android games with no in app purchases

^(http://andauth.co/JTGybG)Nintendo games

Price:Free / Freemium / Varies

^(http://andauth.co/JTGybG)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Nintendo has a decent number of Android games and they’re all pretty decent. They have one premium game with Super Mario Run. Many believed it to be too high of a price. However, mechanically, it’s one of the best platformers on mobile. Nintendo also has a couple of freemium options including Fire Emblem Heroes (strategy RPG) and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (simulation). Nintendo added Dragalia Lost to its repertoire in September of 2018. It’s a little rough around the edges but we’re sure Nintendo will make it better over time. Nintendo is separate from Game Freaks, developers of Pokemon. That’s why they occupy different slots on this list.

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^(http://andauth.co/BcTbzj)Noodlecake Studios

Price:Varies

^(http://andauth.co/BcTbzj)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Noodlecake Studios is one of the most unique developers of Android games. Their titles are vast and varied. Some excellent titles from this studio include Framed 1 and 2 for puzzle games, Alto’s Adventure (and Alto’s Odyssey) for infinite runners, realMyst and its sequel for more hardcore puzzle fans, Wayward Souls for action-adventure fans, Island Delta for shooter fans, Mikey Shorts for platform fans, and many more. We also really liked Lumino City for its uniqueness and Vignettes for its simplicity. Their games run the gambit from freemium to pay-once. Super Mario Run and Nintendo’s latest title, Dragalia Lost, had some issues out of the gate but seem to be improving. Nintendo is slowly taking over mobile.

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^(http://andauth.co/NwcjGW)Pokemon Go

Price:Freemium

^(http://andauth.co/NwcjGW)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Pokemon Go exploded onto the mobile gaming scene in July 2018 and immediately became of the best Android games ever. It’s an augmented reality game similar to Ingress where you walk around the real world, catch Pokemon, battle for Gyms, and hit up Pokestops to restock on items. It beat virtually every record in the books as the world’s most popular mobile game. Thanksfully, the game gets frequent updates. The updates add limited time events, new Pokemon, and new mechanics. It’s not the same game that came out in 2018. It’ll continue to iterate and improve as long as Niantic wants it to. Recent updates have also added new Pokemon and even more stuff to do.

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^(http://andauth.co/SxjglE)PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite

Price:Freemium

^(http://andauth.co/SxjglE)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

PUBG Mobile hit the ground running upon its releases. It already has over ten million downloads and nearly a million user reviews. Thankfully, it’s actually a very competent mobile FPS. It features simple, effective controls, decent graphics. and a simple premise. Basically, 100 people drop from a plane onto an island and duke it out until only one is left standing. The island is littered with gear, weapons, and vehicles along with a mechanic that lowers the play area over time to keep matches from lasting too long. Recent updates added new game modes as well as a freemium element. PUBG Mobile Lite is a lighter version of the game with fewer players per match and lower graphical settings. It’s only available for some devices, though. Fornite is another excellent option if you don’t mind downloading the game directly from Epic Games instead of Google Play.

^(http://andauth.co/SxjglE)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

^(http://andauth.co/hScWcj)Riptide GP series

Price:$2.99

^(http://andauth.co/hScWcj)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

The Riptide GP games are perhaps the best racers available in all of Android gaming. The latest title is Riptide GP Renegade. In this one, you’ll play as a racer who loses their credentials after getting caught in an illegal street race. You’ll battle your way back to the top from there. The game features good graphics, simple controls, fun tricks, and a boost system to help you gain an edge. Perhaps the best part about Renegade is that it’s a pay-once game so there are no ads and no in-app purchases to screw things up. The Asphalt series is another excellent arcade racing game for mobile. Asphalt 9 was launched in July of 2018 and it’s the newest in that franchise.

^(http://andauth.co/hScWcj)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Seriously, there are tons of great Android games. Like this:

^(https://www.appmarsh.com/best-rpg-for-android-168154/)

15 best RPGs for Android

^(https://www.appmarsh.com/best-action-games-for-android-526314/)

15 best action games for Android!

^(http://andauth.co/PFeOxr)Portal Knights 2

Price:$4.99 / $0.99

^(http://andauth.co/PFeOxr)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Portal Knight made quite the splash in late 2018. It’s a mod-and-slash game with RPG progression and sandbox elements. The game also features huge boss fights, local multiplayer (over the same WiFi), controller support, private servers, random events, a crafting system, and tons of other stuff to do. The graphics are a little goofy, but not bad by any stretch. You get used to the bobble head animation after a while. This one is definitely good for people who want something deeper than the typical mobile game. It’s also one of the few sandbox-style action RPGs that isn’t also a freemium game.

^(http://andauth.co/PFeOxr)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

^(http://andauth.co/PWKZoo)Square Enix games

Price:Varies

^(http://andauth.co/PWKZoo)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Square Enix is one of the few “big name” developers that took mobile gaming seriously from the start and they have some of the best Android games available anywhere. Fans of jRPG games have remakes of Final Fantasy 1-7 and 9, seven Dragon Quest games, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition to play and they’re all really good. Hitman: Sniper, the original Tomb Raider, Deus Ex Go, and Lara Croft Go round out a decent selection of puzzle games. You have Heavenstrike Rivals and Final Fantasy Tactics: WotL for tactical RPGs, Secret of Mana for an action RPG, and the Deus Ex series for strategy shooter enthusiasts. Even their freemium efforts, such as Final Fantasy Brave Exvius and Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia are pretty good. They added Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth in May of 2018, another ported classic.

^(http://andauth.co/PWKZoo)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

^(http://andauth.co/DoQlsm)The Room series (four games)

Price:Varies

^(http://andauth.co/DoQlsm)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

The Room is a series of four puzzle games. It was the first franchise that did the puzzle genre really well on mobile. The latest game in The Room series is just as big of a hit as its predecessors and they remain among the best Android games. The Room is a series of escape puzzle games. Each room has bunch of mysterious objects. Your goal is to solve the puzzles and get out. You progress from room to room to find even more unique objects and solve their puzzles until you win the game. The latest one, The Room: Old Sins, includes cloud saving, Google Play Games achievements, and even a small exploration element. That sets it apart from the pure puzzle experience of the first three games. You can’t go wrong with any of these. They’re all very good.

^(http://andauth.co/DoQlsm)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

^(http://andauth.co/BJICZV)This War of Mine

Price:$14.99 / $1.99

^(http://andauth.co/BJICZV)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

This War of Mine is so good that we awarded it the best game released in 2018. In this survival game, you lead a crew of civilians in a city torn apart by war. You’re tasked with making difficult decisions that have heart wrenching results with survival being the key. It comes with good graphics, plenty of content, and a hefty price tag. You start your play at night or during the day. Each play will bring you something a little different. It’s one of the deeper Android games that can really get the emotions going. The developers launched an expansion as well that runs for $1.99 as an in-app purchase. It’s a little old, but it’s still one of the best strategy-simulators on mobile.

^(http://andauth.co/BJICZV)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

^(http://andauth.co/iZbmrQ)Vainglory

Price:Free with in-app purchases

^(http://andauth.co/iZbmrQ)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Vainglory is probably the best MOBA available on Android. It features a large cast of characters along with a fairly traditional MOBA experience. You’ll have your typical three lanes that you’ll need to attack or defend along with two teammates. You can play with or against real people or bots if you want to. The performance is top notch and there are over two dozen characters that you can unlock. There are also no energy bars or other freemium hoops to jump through. There is also a beta available that can use the Vulkan API, although it’s not quite stable yet.

^(http://andauth.co/iZbmrQ)DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Thank you for reading! Here are a couple of final lists for you to check out!

^(https://www.appmarsh.com/best-game-apps-android-885955/)

10 best game apps for Android!

^(https://www.appmarsh.com/best-bluetooth-gaming-controllers-403184/)

Best Android game controllers

If we missed any of the best Android games, tell us about them in the comments!

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Author: Marshmallow

Marshmallow Android is BT Ireland’s Head of Sales for Republic of Ireland domestic multi-site companies, indigenous MNCs and public sector accounts. He is responsible for the direction and control of all sales activity in the region. He has over 10 years management experience from high growth start-ups to more established businesses. He’s led teams in Ireland, India and China across various industries (ICT, On-Line Recruitment, Corporate Training and International Education). View all posts by Marshmallow